The CDC says we're in a flu epidemic. But, at this time of year, how can you tell if it’s a cold, flu or allergies?
All three can trigger sneezing, congestion, stuffy/runny nose.
Baylor College of Medicine physician assistant and instructor of family and community medicine Isabel Valdez,said flu symptoms include -high fevers, body aches, chills, night sweats, severe headache, congestion, runny nose, cough and nauseous.
“Congestion can also be because the tissue inside your nostrils gets pretty swollen and inflamed. They could actually be more a function of your sinuses swelling and creating this sensation that you have a blockage,” said Valdez. “We’re indoors a lot, so you’ve got either a space heater close to you or you have the heater blasting in your face in your car. Those situations can really dry out the inside of your sinuses.”
With a cold, symptoms are congestion, sinuses are runny, or stuffy, sore throat, cough and runs its course seven to 10 days.
Allergies start with drainage and runny nose and none of the flu or cold symptoms.